Dental Cleaning and Exam

Taking care of your mouth is essential for maintaining its health. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. These habits are imperative for removing bacteria, plaque, and other debris from your teeth to prevent serious oral health conditions from developing. While these habits are incredibly important, the ADA also recommends professional care at least twice a year as well. Aesthetic Dentistry of Bend can provide you with the routine cleanings and exams you need to maintain optimal oral health.

Cleanings

Cleanings are recommended twice a year, or once every six months. They are performed to remove all accumulation from the surfaces of your teeth, including from the areas that you might have difficulty properly cleaning on your own. In thoroughly cleaning your teeth, we can help you further prevent issues like cavities and periodontal disease from developing.

Cleanings are incredibly simple and straightforward. We begin by scraping the surfaces of your teeth with a special tool. This tool enables us to remove plaque, bacteria, and other debris. We are even able to remove tartar, or plaque that has hardened on the surfaces of your teeth and cannot be removed no matter how often, or how hard, you brush. We work carefully to ensure that all buildup is removed, giving special attention along, and just below, the gumline.

After scraping your teeth, we move on to polishing. This is done with an electric hand piece and a dental polish. The electric hand piece is outfitted with a rotating head. The polish contains abrasives, which work to scrub your teeth smooth, shining, and clean as the head rotates rapidly. This helps to remove debris and surface stains, leaving your teeth feeling fresh and clean.

The last step of your cleaning is flossing. Even if you floss at home, extra flossing can be beneficial during your professional cleaning. We can remove the buildup from between your teeth that you might not be able to get on your own. Flossing at the end of your cleaning also enables us to remove loose debris and polish that may have accumulated during your appointment.

Dental Exams

Exams are also recommended at least twice a year and are generally done in the same appointment as your cleaning. With exams, we take a close look at the structures of your mouth to check for early warning signs of a variety of different issues. Spotting issues early allow for easier, and much less invasive, treatments, preventing more serious consequences.

During your exams, we look over your teeth. They are examined for signs of decay and cavities. We check for chips and cracks. Any dental restorations are looked over to ensure that they are still functioning properly. We examine your gums, checking for redness, swelling, periodontal pockets, and signs of gum recession.

Another important part of dental exams, although not performed at every exam, is dental x-rays. X-ray images provide us with a unique view of the otherwise hidden areas of your mouth, including the spaces between your teeth and the areas below your gumline. We can spot cavities, root damage, bone loss, impacted teeth, and so much more. These images help us to get a complete view of your oral health so that we can continue to provide you with the best possible care.

Having your teeth professionally cleaned and examined at least twice a year, in addition to taking care of your mouth at home, is essential for maintaining optimal oral health. Call Aesthetic Dentistry of Bend at (541) 389-0261 today to schedule your next cleaning and exam.